Atienza backs realignment of P52-B DPWH funds to other gov’t agencies

BUHAY party-list Representative Lito Atienza on Wednesday expressed support to the realignment of some P52 billion from the proposed budget of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) for 2019 to other government agencies.

At a press conference, Atienza said the move was only made to remove the "unjustified" allocations in certain districts of some "favored" lawmakers.

"Definitely," Atienza said when asked if he was in favor of the move.

"Tama si [Majority Leader Rolando] Andaya dahil inaalis niya yung mga insertions doon sa budget bago namin talakayin. He was not putting in a pork barrel fund," he added.

On Tuesday, the House of Representatives, convening as Committee of the Whole, approved the realignment of around P52 billion from the budget of the DPWH to fund programs of other government agencies.

ACT Teachers party-list Representative Antonio Tinio, however, questioned the supposedly "lump sum" funds realigned to the DPWH amounting to P31 billion.

But Andaya assured that all amendments in the national budget will be itemized and that nothing will be identified after the General Appropriations Bill for 2019 has been passed into law.

Atienza backed Andaya in saying that the supposed amount was not "pork barrel," which the Supreme Court has declared unconstitutional in 2013.

"Yan ay mga infrastructure projects which will favor a few," he said.

Because of this, Atienza said it is only proper that lawmakers make the budget justifiably fair to all districts in the country.

"Trabaho namin yun e to do the best that we can to provide the best for our districts," he said.

"So there is nothing wrong with a congressman working for certain infrastructure projects but there is something with the leadership if that congressman gets all the budget and none for the rest," he added.

The House of Representatives on Wednesday began its plenary deliberations on the proposed 2019 national budget after a two-day delay. — Erwin Colcol/RSJ, GMA News